HACCP Australia has confirmed that there is no change to its current practices, despite the publication of a statement suggesting the scheme was being phased out.
A press release issued from Food Safety Management entitled ‘HACCP certification programme to be phased out’ has caused some confusion for those involved in the food safety industry. The reason cited for the cessation of the scheme was that “over the past few years, the number of HACCP certificates has decreased dramatically, and that downward trend has only accelerated recently.”
However, HACCP Australia confirms that the statement was actually referring to ‘Dutch HACCP’, one of the earlier certification schemes for HACCP. Dutch HACCP was replaced by the more modern FSSC 22000 scheme, and it is the Dutch HACCP that has been declining in popularity, following the emergence of other, modern replacement schemes and standards (including BRC and Safe Quality Food as well as FSSC 22000). These replacement schemes are often generically referred to as ‘HACCP schemes’ as well, which has added to the confusion.
“The article is not meant to imply a demise of HACCP. In fact, the opposite is true,” read the statement from HACCP Australia. “It is the retirement of one old scheme now replaced by more modern ones that have evolved which represent current world’s best practices.”
Pest managers can rest assured that it’s business as usual when it comes to pest management practice in food handling accounts.
